Nová Říše

Nová Říše is a small town in the Jihlava District of the Vysočina Region in the Czech Republic, best known for its Premonstratensian monastery, one of the region's most significant religious landmarks. The monastic complex, with its imposing church and extensive library, draws pilgrims and history-minded travelers exploring the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands.

When was the monastery in Nová Říše founded?

The monastery traces its origins to 1211, when it was established by Markvart of Hrádek and his wife Vojslava. It began life as a convent for Premonstratensian nuns, forming part of a wider wave of monastic settlement across Bohemia and Moravia in the 13th century.

How did the monastery survive the Hussite Wars?

The Hussite period brought devastation to Nová Říše. In both 1423 and 1424, the convent and its church were plundered and burned by Hussite forces. Nuns who failed to escape in time were captured and drowned in a nearby pond. Despite this tragedy, the community of sisters returned to Nová Říše in the following years, but it eventually died out in 1597.

When did the community become a men's monastery and gain abbey status?

After the female community disappeared, the monastery's estates were kept intact by a succession of provosts. On 16 May 1641, Premonstratensian canons from the abbey of Zábrdovice arrived in Nová Říše, turning it into a men's monastery. A major milestone followed on 27 December 1733, when the provostship was elevated to the status of an independent abbey. After 1784, additional canons settled here from Zábrdovice, whose own monastery had been dissolved under the secularization decree of Emperor Joseph II.

What happened to the monastery in the 20th century?

The 20th century proved turbulent for the community. During the Second World War, the monastery was raided by the Gestapo following a denunciation, and the canons were deported to a concentration camp. The community managed to rebuild after the war, only to be shut down again by the communist regime in 1950. Monastic life did not return to Nová Říše until 1991, after the fall of communism, and Premonstratensian canons have lived and worked there ever since.

What can visitors see at the monastery today?

The centerpiece of the complex is the Church of St. Peter and Paul, built over three decades of construction and completed in 1707 — a grand Baroque structure that anchors the whole site. Equally notable is the monastery library, which holds more than 20,000 volumes, one of the richest monastic book collections in the Vysočina Region and a testament to centuries of scholarly tradition here.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the monastery in Nová Říše? The religious community at this site dates back to 1211, though it began as a convent for nuns. The present-day Premonstratensian men's community arrived in 1641.

Is the monastery still active today? Yes. After being closed by the communist authorities in 1950, monastic life resumed in 1991, and Premonstratensian canons remain in residence there today.

What is the monastery known for? Besides the 1707 Baroque Church of St. Peter and Paul, the monastery is known for its extensive library of more than 20,000 volumes.

Where is Nová Říše located? The town lies in the Jihlava District of the Vysočina Region, in the Czech Republic.